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For a number of years, I have continued to see the advancement of contemporary worship while Traditional worship has continued losing ground. What was once used primarily by the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches have now been adopted by most denominations of the Christian church, including Nazarene, Presbyterian (mainly UPC and PCA, though more recently also some OPC), Baptist, and Methodist churches. Many people accept this change freely, but in good conscience I cannot. The following is my attempt to explain the views of myself and others on this topic. My beliefs in this area are based on writings by a variety of reformers including Calvin, Matthew Henry, C. H. Spurgeon, and Thomas Watson, and a number of other writers including Dan Lucarini and Dr. Peter Masters. I have also learned some on this topic for family, friends, and christian brothers and sisters. I regret that I often cannot cite specific ideas properly, because I have been studying the topic for some time and have lost track of some concept origins.
For a number of years, I have continued to see the advancement of contemporary worship while Traditional worship has continued losing ground. What was once used primarily by the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches have now been adopted by most denominations of the Christian church, including Nazarene, Presbyterian (mainly UPC and PCA, though more recently also some OPC), Baptist, and Methodist churches. Many people accept this change freely, but in good conscience I cannot. The following is my attempt to explain the views of myself and others on this topic. My beliefs in this area are based on writings by a variety of reformers including Calvin, Matthew Henry, C. H. Spurgeon, and Thomas Watson, and a number of other writers and speakers including Dan Lucarini and Dr. Peter Masters, and Bill Gothard. I have also learned some on this topic for family, friends, and christian brothers and sisters. I regret that I often cannot cite specific ideas properly, because I have been studying the topic for some time and have lost track of some concept origins.
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It is my belief that worship will always be based primarily on one of two things, either reverence or emotion. From what I see, Traditional worship is primarily reverence-based, while contemporary is more feelings/emotion-based.
It is my belief that worship will always be based primarily on one of two things, either reverence or emotion. From what I see, Traditional worship is primarily reverence-based, while contemporary is more feelings/emotion-based.
David again and again paints the picture of reverent but joyful worship in this manner. Reverence does not prohibit exuberance, but only controls it.
David again and again paints the picture of reverent but joyful worship in this manner. Reverence does not prohibit exuberance, but only controls it.
==Additional concerns==
===Music association===
Another argument against contemporary worship is that of association. A number of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) pieces are based on secular songs. While someone is trying to focus on God, they are instead being reminded of worldly things which the original song was focused on. Even the style may be associated with worldly thoughts and behaviors for some, even though a particular piece is unique to CCM.<ref>Lucarini, Dan. Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement: Confessions of a Former Worship Leader. Darlington, England: Evangelical, 2002. Print.</ref>
===Backbeat===
Music has a cycle of four natural beats. The second and fourth are primary beats, which should usually be dominant. Syllables are usually started on these beats, at the same time as one or more note is played. The first and third beats are known as the backbeat. If you are counting of the beat, this will be exactly in between the primary beats. While most music would focus on the primary beat, most modern music focuses on the backbeat. It is accentuated above the primary, to cause a greater emotional response. When Engaging in emotional worship, it is almost necessary that this backbeat to be used, to help encourage emotional expression. The argument given by CCM writers and users is that music is [[amoral]] (neither good nor bad). Therefore, it is fine to use any musical device as desired. However, there are arguments to the opposite as well.<ref name=
av1611.org">http://www.av1611.org/rock/rock_noise.html</ref>
====Physiological impact====
Bill Gothard has spoken on this impact of a backbeat in great detail, and is the person I tend to remember most in this area, although he is surely not the only one to speak on this. As a counselor, he has been given plenty of expose to people in many different situations. He has seen many people influenced by music with a backbeat. These people have found themselves such freer to sin after or while listening to such music, usually [[Rock music|rock]]. People he counseled also used such music to deal with guild over sin, such as one person in particular he spoke of who would go out with gang members, and listen to rock music in their car for some time before they got up their courage to go beat up or rob someone. Afterwards, the music also helped them to forget their guilt and not feel as bad. Does such music then facilitate sin? It seems so, but what about CCM? The words are right, so it must be okay, right? A backbeat has been proven reduce inhibitions, so it is not hard to believe that such music may do this, simply because of the backbeat.<ref name=
av1611.org">http://www.av1611.org/rock/rock_noise.html</ref>
====Satanic influence?====
Before you skip this section assuming I'm just calling something I do not agree with something from Satan, please hear me out. A missionary friend related to me a relevant experience. They were living among a tribe of native Africans, working to teach them the gospel. The family was making good progress as God opened the people's hearts and minds. A large percentage of the natives had accepted Jesus Christ, and almost everyone understood the gospel. On one particular day, their two daughters began playing some contemporary christian music in their room (a tent, I believe). Before long, several of the tribal leaders came to the missionary, and asked him and his wife why it was that they were allowing their daughters to play the music which used to enslave the tribe to Satan. The utterly shocked missionary and his wife quickly instructed their daughters to stop. They had not really taught anything about the good and evil of music, but the natives knew nonetheless. <br />
I have also heard several third hand stories from reliable sources of people who apparently suffered attacks from demons. For them, one major solution was getting rid of all such music with the backbeat.
===Focus===
Another issue with contemporary music is often the focus of the words themselves. While most well-known hymns speak to God, praising, honoring, and thanking God.